RRC - Attorney I

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry; and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas' website here https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.   

To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:  

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year
• Telework options for eligible positions  
• Flexible work schedules
• Retirement pension with a 150% agency match - you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJI6M7g73-w 
• 401(k), 457(b) and Roth
• Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness and Exercise Leave
• Career development programs/opportunities for advancement  

For a complete list of our total compensation package, please visit our website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees, visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at https://ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.  

The Hearings Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas is seeking an Attorney I to support the Hearings Division Oil and Gas and Oversight and Safety docket groups. The Hearings Division conducts hearings on regulatory aspects of gas utility rates and safety, surface mining and reclamation, oil and gas exploration and production, and critical infrastructure. This position may assist administrative law judges (ALJs) and technical examiners (TEs) in evaluating evidence, drafting correspondence and orders, and summarizing expert technical and legal testimony. Research pertinent facts and law to aid ALJs and TEs in drafting recommendations to the Commission. Must have an ability to review materials from many differing scientific disciplines relating to pipelines, geology, soils, surface water, and groundwater. Must be capable of understanding and reviewing complex drawings, maps, and plans. May draft or assist in drafting administrative regulations. Will create documents using word processing and spreadsheet programs. Will work closely with ALJs and TEs.

This position reports to the Hearings Division Director and requires meticulous attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple projects, and the ability to meet critical deadlines. Performs general legal work with moderate supervision and some latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. May assist others performing job duties of greater complexity as required.

• Assist ALJs and TEs in managing and presiding over dockets in the Hearings Division
• Advise on the interpretation and application of agency rules and regulations, as well as state and federal laws   
• Legal research     
• Assist in administrative hearings or proceedings    
• Draft research memoranda on regulatory matters or administrative rules    
• Review drafts of laws, rules, and regulations impacting the Hearings Division or hearing procedures
• Determine and apply relevant rules and statutes, to comply with ethical standards, to recognize problems and identify and facilitate solutions, to communicate effectively, and to assign and/or supervise the work of others
• Write well-reasoned, grammatically correct legal documents
• Maintain docket files in compliance with open government and confidentiality procedures.
• Use computers and applicable software
• Must be able to work 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM M-F, with occasional nights, weekends, and holidays. 
• Willing to travel 5% of the time
• Performs other duties, as assigned

For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college/university              
• J.D. degree from an accredited law school (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION)
• Licensed to practice law by the state of Texas, with active membership in good standing
• Ability to produce high-quality legal documents
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• A writing sample, preferably drafted within the past two years, must be submitted for the application to be considered. The writing sample should be at least 1,500 words in length.
• Valid Texas Driver's License and good driving record

• Working knowledge of Texas's statutory and regulatory requirements

• Working knowledge of the Texas Administrative Code, the Texas Natural Resources Code, the Texas Water Code, and the Administrative Procedures Act

• Experience with administrative, energy, environmental, and/or gas utility law            

• Experience in contested case hearings and/or litigation matters       

• Up to two years of experience or internship working in a government/private law office  

• Ability to interact effectively with the public 

• Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, as well as agency administrative rules and regulations.     

• Knowledge of trial and administrative hearing procedures, applicable laws, government regulations, and agency rules. 

• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; identifying and solving complex problems; interpreting and applying laws and regulations; and using judgment to identify courses of action.

• Skill in listening to testimony of parties involved in hearings, in using reasoning and logic to identify solutions and approaches to cases.

• Ability to manage and prioritize a complex workload to meet applicable goals, objectives, and performance metrics  

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing    

• Ability to take initiative and work independently      

• Ability to work effectively on a team  or individually

• Ability to address issues/concerns in a professional manner

• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to understand and explain complex issues, regulations, and standards

• Ability to determine and apply relevant rules and statutes, to comply with ethical standards, to demonstrate strong organizational and time management abilities, and the ability to preserve and keep documents secure, and to appropriately coordinate with the preservation of records.

• Ability to work under pressure, coordinate multiple priorities, and meet strict deadlines. 

• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Virtual Meeting Platforms). 

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Ability to reach high and low; open, close, and retrieve files from file cabinets as well as operate the computer keyboard and appropriate office equipment.

• Primarily indoors with heating and cooling regulated in a general office environment; the noise level in the work environment ranges from low to moderate.

   

Work Hours: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternative schedules for employees, provided they do not adversely affect operations or service levels and standard hours of operation are maintained. The Commission may also offer telework in accordance with the agency's approved Telework Plan. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS:  Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or log in: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Remarks:  

• There is one available position.  
• Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
• Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.  

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide. 
 

The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not 
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age 
or disability in employment or in the provision of services. 
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.